This seems a fitting place to mention the average GI's gripe about knowing so little of what was actually going on in the war as a whole, when he was so busily active in his own little niche. After spending our first night in Germany, where all was quiet save for occasional artillery fire, it was a thrill to get a chance during the morning to see a copy of "Stars and Stripes" of the day before (February 28th) and read that, 'YANK GUNS WERE SHELLING COLOGNE,' 'NINTH TANKS RACING WITHIN 13 MILES OF DUSSELDORF' and 'AMERICAN SPEARHEADS WITHIN NINE MILES OF COLOGNE.'

By the evening of March 1st, Headquarters Platoon was still at the side of the road while the Recon Platoons had gone forward through the next neighboring towns. Shortly after dark Headquarters moved up near town and the vehicles were put in a courtyard behind two houses which we occupied that night. The houses had been completely looted so all we could do was throw the remaining debris out of the windows, unroll our sleeping bags and catch some much needed sleep. In the morning the Recon Platoons came back for breakfast after which the Troop was organized again for taking its part in the steady stream moving on into Germany.

Our mission was to proceed to Orsay on the Rhine. We were told we would meet opposition and this was no exaggeration. The convoy moved slowly, with many stops on the way, over muddy and rutted roads, choked with vehicles passing and repassing. In the middle of the afternoon as we were approaching a village, we heard distant mortar fire. In no time at all we realized that our route was the target. The rounds were falling in the middle of the town between some curves in the road which the convoy was following. This was the Troops first experience under fire while traveling in convoy. Vehicles of other units were often mixed in with ours during the constant passing and repassing. A half-track of the 49th Infantry, carrying 12 men, immediately in front of one of our Supply half-tracks, was hit by a round of mortar. By a stroke of luck it hit the extreme front end of the vehicle, completely destroying the wheel, tire, axle and related parts, but leaving the occupants and their section of the vehicle unharmed. Part of the flying fragments cracked our Supply half-track's windshield. Three other rounds fell close by during the two or three minute interval this section of the convoy was halted. Not one of our vehicles was hit and the rest of the march was made without similar incident. We spent the night in a little German village where the civilians were moved out to make room for us.

So far one of the most impressive parts of the march was the elaborate and well planned system of fortifications on all sides, but all unmanned. As yet the explanation for this was not clear. Whether it meant there was a shortage of men or a lack of desire to hold out, was still to be learned.

The following morning, March 3rd, we moved out and progressed a little farther to a town called Aldekerk. The First Platoon as point, and the Third Platoon as flank guard had moved on ahead, and met with some opposition. The First Platoon was the first unit of CCB to reach Aldekerk. The lead scout, Sgt. Harms, was fired at several times by snipers and the whole Platoon returned fire with more or less accuracy. A number of prisoners were captured that day. On the right flank the Third Platoon captured three German engineers at a bridge prepared for demolition. The information on the men and bridge had been passed on to the Platoon by Major Guernay, he having received it from a prisoner captured earlier.

Thus far most of the houses were flying white flags and the German Soldiers encountered surrendered willingly. In this area many of the towns had not been scenes of combat or resistance, so the buildings were undamaged and civilians were still living in the houses. After our Troop took over Alderkerk we moved into several of the houses making the civilians move out. Their attitude was varied, in some there was sullen resentment while in others merely meek obedience.

The day after reaching Aldekerk a demolition squad consisting of Sgt. Schaad, Cpls. Fishman, McConnel, Hanks and Pvt. Stasheski, was sent out by Capt. Stone to check demolitions in the area. Twelve bridges and four culverts were found to be heavily mined. All bridges were taped and the four culverts neutralized. These positions were recorded and turned over to "B" Company of the 53rd Engineers. Sections of the second and Third Platoons were sent out on road reconnaissance and that afternoon most of the Troop was sent out to screen the woods near Aldekerk. This resulted in the capture of a German Medic by Cpl. Grever.

The 4th of March found us still in Aldekerk, in a reserve position, due to the rapid advance of Infantry on our flanks which wedges us out. Thus far the Troop had seemingly done well. The Recon Platoons had performed their missions quickly, efficiently and without casualties, and a number of prisoners had been taken. All during the night of the 3rd, heavy fire from positions about us had been poured into the parts of Germany ahead of us. Many more tanks, heavy guns, and vehicles rumbled on into this rapidly surrendering section. The lack of stiff resistance was amazing. One could not help wonder whether, and if so where, the enemy could be gathering or regrouping for some stiff defense. Encouraging rumors said several bridgeheads were already established on the Rhine. During the night of the 4th we were again put on the alert. The vehicles were stowed and equipment packed under a particularly dark night.

March 5 to March 10

Here begins the account of our first real combat, it being where we suffered our first battle casualties. Inasmuch as the Troop operated much of the time as separate platoons, it has been difficult for me to gather into a unified report. the exact story of the Troops activity in accurate sequence. I have depended much on details given me by Capt. Stone, Sgt. Tipton, Sgt. Ackerman and Pfcs Jordan and Buschman.

Our mission was to move out as part of a task force from the 35th Infantry Division with our first objective the town of Lintfort. This was to be taken if the opposition was light, and by-passed if heavy, and our next objective, Rhineburg, be taken. We moved out from Aldekerk about 0430, progressing slowly until about one and one half miles southwest of Lintfort where we were held up by a blown out bridge. After this was repaired the advanced guard, infantry and tank companies went on to Lintfort. The First and Third Platoons followed in after them, passed through Lintfort, and began to reconnoiter routes to Rhineburg from the south and southwest.

During this period the Third Platoon's activity was illustrative of part of our troubles. They had moved on toward Lintfort in the lead position after having furnished protection for the 53rd Engineers while they rebuilt the blown out bridge. After the town was taken by tanks and infantry, the Platoon, supported by the 809th TD's, moved to the right of the town and on toward the next objective, Rhineburg. Just out of Lintfort they were engaged in a fight with German Infantry which resulted in several of the enemy being killed and a dozen or so being captured. After this our men moved on in advance of the tanks until pinned down in an open field by sniper, machine gun and burp gun fire from three sides. It was during this struggle Cpl. McConnell was shot and killed and Pvt. Caceia wounded.

Several Germans were killed and four prisoners taken. The Platoon then advanced a little beyond this point and halted along the road to Rhineburg. Here the Platoon set up for a suspected counter attack and during this time was able to capture 23 prisoners from a nearby farmhouse. It was only after a lull in the fighting that the irony of the death of Cpl. McConnell was fully realized. Only two days previously he had refused evacuation for a crushed finger. His bravery while taking prisoners under fire will always be remembered by the men in his platoon.

In the meantime the First Platoon was having its difficulties which resulted in more of our serious casualties. The First Platoon had gone over with the third, the latter to give protection from the east, and the former from the south. The infantry and tanks had gone forward to take Lintfort. The First Platoon went through the town afterwards, drawing some sniper fire, and from here on ran into trouble. On the way out, Sgt. Harms was hit twice by enemy fire and wounded. All eight or ten Germans causing this trouble were shot. Later in the day the troop started to assemble in the vicinity Klein Bongardt. In moving here Major Van Houten called on the First Platoon to assist in evacuating some tank casualties. Lt. Ryan and Pfc. Buschman made a dismounted reconnaissance of the area and found none alive. This was reported but it was insisted some were still there, so Lt. Ryan led his men back to the hot spot.